Improved car-elevatoe



nitcn tnica-Elsner @fitta HENRY ARDEN, OFA CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 77,70d, dated May 5, 1868.

IMPROVED GAR-ELEVATOR.-

TO ALL WHOMIT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, Hanny AItDnN, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for Elevating or Hoisting Railroad-Cars off. their Trucks when necessary; and I do hereby declare that the" following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making par-t of this i specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine.

Figure 2, a side view of one end ofthe suspended beam F and lifting-hook b Figure 3 is atop view of one end of one of the shafts C, with its grooved pulley D.

e In order to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use my invention, I describe it as follows, viz: i

I construct a frame, A, of any desired or suitable height and length to suit the situation and purpose for which it is designed, and of a width snlicient to allowthe cars to be operated on to pass Afreely between the lifting-hooks b, when they are at or near the ends of the suspended beams F.l This frame A may be made as represented in iig-1, or in any desired manner substantially the same; and upon thecross-ties B, I place two shafts, C, a distance apart about equal to the width of the body of a car, and parallel with each other and with the sides ofthe frame A. Near the ends of these shafts, Iv plac'e pulleys D, as seen in iig. 1. These pulleys at one end of each shaft are keyed thereon rigidly, while at the other lend they'are so.i secured .as to allow them tobe moved at will longitudinally on said shafts, while, by means of the grooves er splines in them, as seen in hg. 3 at t', and corresponding keysin the eyes of the pulleys, which keys work insaid splines, they are forced to revolve with their respective shafts, or a feather maybe/placed rigidly in said spline extending its entire length; and a corresponding key-seat cut .iny the eye of the pulley, so that the feather will, by projecting from the shaft beyond its surface, enter the keyseat vin the eye of the pulley, and thus prevent its turning on the shaft, but force it to turn with it.y This longitudinal movement may often be necessary, in order to place the suspended beams F, and the lifting-hooks b, at any desired distance apart to suit cars of different lengths. I suspend to the pulleys D,'by means of the ropes or chains E, the beams F, as seen in-g. 1. These beams F are formed with long mortises, a, in them, extending from near their ends to the points where the ropes orchainsE are attached. In these mortises are suspended the lifting-hooks 6, as seen in figs. 1 and 2. These hooks hang on two rollers or wheels 'which rest on the beams F. They are each provided with a roller or wheel d, under the beams, to prevent the lower ends of the hooks from swinging outward, land then letting the body of the car, which is being suspended, drop down between them, and also t`o allow the hooks tobe moved back and forth on the beams F more easily than they could be if suspended on asingle roller.. The form of these hooks, b, is plainly shown in fig. 2.4 At any convenient place on the shafts C, say near their centre, I place on each an arm, G, fig. 1. These arms are rigidly keyed on their respective shafts, and at their opposite ends from the shafts they are attached,` by means oflinks e, to an upright rod,f, which extends up through the column or bearing H. The upper end of this rod f is attached to a steam or hydraulic engine, capstan, or levers, -or any' suitable apparatus or machinery whioh`will give it the required motion and power.

- From the above description it is evident that, if the frame-A is made asA described, and placed across or over a railroad-track, andra ear passed under it and between the lifting-hooks b, and they are moved inward against the body of the car, their hooks b passing under. the side rails or timbers g ofthe car, so that they will take hold of the same when raised, and then thervertical rod be drawn up by any suitable means, the shafts C will be turned, and the ropes or chains E'will be wound up 'on the pulleys D, whichwill raise the beams F and lifting-hooks Zi, and with them'the body of the car will be elevated'and thus lifted from and oifits trucks, when they can beremo'vcd at pleasure, and others, if desired, be placed in their stead. i

Having thus described the construction and use of my machine, what-I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination ofthe frame A, shafts C, arid arms Gr, with the links e and iodf, substantially as and fonthe pnirpose set forth.

2. The shafts C and pulleys D, in combination with the ropes o1' chains E and beamsv'F, or their equivalents, all es shown and described.

3. 'The combination of' the beams F and lifting-hooks 6, or their equivzilents, all-as shown and described.

4. The combination of the arms Gr, shafts C, and pulleys D, :ill as shown and described, and for thc purpose specified. 4

Thecombinotion of the shafts C, pulleys D, and ropes oifchans E, all as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

HENRY ARDEN.

Witnesses:

G. B. HoLLIsTER, Jos. W. SANDERsoN. 

